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Ruairi

Boy name · 458 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Ruairi: 458 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 35 births in 2024.

The Gaelic name Ruairi, pronounced roughly “ROO-ree,” comes from the Old Irish *Ruaidrí*, combining *ruad* (red) and *rí* (king), so it means “red king.” Several medieval Irish and Scottish kings bore the name, including Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, the last High King of Ireland before the Norman invasion. In modern times, Scottish actor Ruairi O’Connor and footballer Ruairi Donnelly have brought it into the spotlight. While no major towns or landmarks derive directly from the name, the anglicised form Rory remains a common choice across the UK and Ireland. Notably, Ruairi has been a consistently popular pick for baby boys in Scotland, ranking in the top 100 names for much of the last two decades, with variant spellings like Ruaraidh occasionally seen.